IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14980 

(716)  873-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductlons  historlquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographieally  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  ehanga 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Coiourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covars  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagta 


Covars  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  at/ou  pallieulAa 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coiourad  maps/ 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


□   Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  blaua  ou  noire) 

I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  Illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intiriaura 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^as 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  taxta, 
mais.  lorsqua  cela  6tait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmAas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmantairas; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meiileur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage. 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□   Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdas 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

r~|    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
1^1    Pages  ddcolories,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiiti  inigala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  ddition  disponibie 


r~l  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partielloment 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  filmies  A  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

3QX 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


itails 
t  du 
odifier 
'  une 
mage. 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Douglas  Library 
Quaan's  Univarsity 

Tha  imagas  appearing  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  consldaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif icatlons. 


Original  coplas  In  printed  paper  covera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  imprea- 
slon,  or  tha  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  —^-(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  tha  symbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  fllmA  fut  reproduit  grice  d  la 
g^n^rositA  da: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  images  sulvantas  ont  AtA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 

Lea  axemplelres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmte  en  commenqant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impresslon  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplelres 
originaux  sont  filmfo  en  commenpant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impresslon  ou  d'illustratlon  at  en  termlnant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  sulvants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUiVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  dlff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raprodult  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
da  i'angle  supArieur  geuche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  an  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammas  sulvants 
lllustrant  la  mAthoda. 


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to 


pelure. 


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32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

6 

6 

THE  APOLOGY  OF  PATRIOTS, 


O  R 


The  heresy  of  the  friends  of  the  Washington  and 
peace  policy  defended*    , 


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SERMON, 

•""'•■'-■■'  PREACHED    IW         ■"»-i-..^? 

WORCESTER,  MASSACHUSETTS, 

ON  THE  BAT    OF    THE  ■^"  .••■■."'^S'* 

NATIONAL   FAST,     " 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  20,   1813, 

I    |C)BSERV£D  IN    COMPLIANCE    WITH   THE  RECOMMENDATION  OF 

JAMES  MADISON, 

:,-,■}     i-"-^.  ^:!..\        PRESIDENT   OF   THE  ,"  z'^.  ^^  ••.*•.■. 

UNITED  STATESi. 

AND  IV  CONSEQUENCE  OF  THE  DECLARATION  OF  WAR 

AGAINST  GREAT-BRITAIN. 


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BY  SAMUEL  AUSTIN,  D;  D. 


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PUBLISHED    BY    REqUEST* 


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CHRISTIAMITY  was  a  heresy  in  the  estimate  of  the 
Jewish  Doctors  ;  andy  according  to  their  decisions^  its  adherents 
were  liable  to  a  capital  fiunishment.     The  federal  fiolicy  is  a 
heresy  in  the  estimate  of  our  JVatiotial  Rulers^  and  obnoxious^  if 
not  to  legal  penalties^  to  their  severe  animadversion.     It  would 
be  no  small  gratijicaticn  of  curiosity  to  trace  the  analogy  be- 
tween these  reputed  heresies  and  their  opfiositea.     The  reader 
will  do  it  J  if  he  please^  in  his  own  mnd.     Christianity  is  but  a 
develofiementf  or  farther  exposition^  and  execution^  of  the  re- 
ligion contained  in  the   Old  Testament  Scriptures,      Judaism, 
which  entirely  excluded  the  doctrine  of  a  Saviour,  and  which  con- 
sisted in  a  course  of  external  observances,  founded  principally 
in  a  traditionary  law,  of  mere  human  authority,  was  a  corruption 
if  that  religion,  and  the  real  heresy.     Hence,  for  the  defence  of 
Christianity,  the  jipostles  constantly  appealed,  when  they  had 
before  them  Jewish  auditors,  to  the  Lawy  and  the  Prophets  ;  and 
it  was  a  leading  object  with  them  to  subvert  Judaism,  as  (lie 
grand  obstacle  to  the  progress  of  the  Gospel, 


17601.?? 


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■  ril.ui':!.. 


•■-;   ' 


SEEMON 


-  ( 


(:>.•■>'•■ 


'.  .'•'/.    :.  uci."    ACTS,  xxiv.   U.     ;■.. 


-■■■'■i-'e 


•ti.-i   ■)  ■]  ,j;    ■■ 


■    :•    '..If;.:     .'•    .. 


BUT  THIS  Z  CONFESS  UNTO  THEE,  T«AT  AVTER  THE  WAY 
WHICH  THEY  CALL  HERESY)  SO  WORSHIP  I  THE  OOD  OV 
MY  FATHERS  ',  BELIEVING  ALL  THINGS  WHICH  ARE  WHIT7 
TEN  IN  TUB  LAW  AND  IN  THE  PROPHETS. 


MY    BRETHREN} 


T. 


'  I  - 


[■■iit 

"id"     ' 


HE  grand  heresy  of  our  Country,  at  the  pre- 
sent time,  is  disagreement  with  the  administration  of  our 
goveiiiment,  in  the  character  it  has  chosen  to  assume,  in  the 
course  it  has  taken,  since  it  went  into  operation,  in  its  re- 
strictive measures,  and,  particularly,  in  regard  to  the  war  in- 
to which  it  has  recently  plunged  the  nation.  This  heresy  is 
denounced  by  the  administration  and  by  all  its  zealous  adher- 
ents. It  seems  to  be  determined  to  overwhelm  it,  cither  &y 
law,  or  without  law  ;  either  by  an  organized  force,  or  hy  put- 
ting in  motion  desperate,  and  unprincipled  individuals,  w'ho, 
from  the  little  interest  they  have  in  the  publick  welfare,  and 
from  habits  of  licentiousness,  are  prepared  for  outrage  and 
massacre.  The  machinery  of  compulsion  has  begun  to  act, 
and  how  far  it  will  proceed  it  is  impossible  for  any  man  to 
say.  But  as  the  spirit  of  Paul  could  not  languish,  while  he 
had  so  great  a  charge  from  his  omnipotent  Redeemer,  as 
the  propagation  of  his  religion  among  the  Gentiles,  notwith- 
standing it  was  a  fact,  that,  in  every  city,  bonds  and  afflictions 
attended  him  ;  so  it  is  not  probable  that  that  love  to  God,  and 
virtue,  and  the  general  happiness  of  our  Country  which  pos- 


sesset  the  minds  of  u  considerable  portion  of  the  American 
people,  ivill  shrink  from  those  persevering  efforts  which  may- 
seem  to  promise  to  dissipate  the  delusion,  and  to  change  tht 
measures,  vrhich  threaten  «iur  national  destntction.  The  he- 
resy mentioned  has  an  extensive  and  inci^asing  acceptation 
all  over  our  Country  ;  but  is  most  prevalent  in  these  northern 
states,  where,  we  flatter  ourselves,  the  Christian  doctrine  has 
most  influence,  and  the  principles  and  measures  of  genuine 
Republicanism  are  best  understood.  This  heresy  is  the 
crime  cf  almost  all  the  professors  of  religion  in  New-En- 
gland, I  mean  those  whose  religion^n  the  doctrines  and  modes 
of  it,  corresponds  with  that  of  our  pious  forefathers.  It  is  the 
crime  of  almost  the  whole  body  of  congregational  ministers  in 
this  section  of  the  United  States ;  and  it  is  the  ciime  of 
thousands  of  prudent  and  sl»b]«  patfibts,  whtf  were  the 
most  active  in  council,  and  the  most  valiant  in  arms, 
in  achieving  the  grand  object  of  the  revolution.  With 
this  crime  I  stand  charged,  by,  it  is  probable,  a  majori- 
ty of  my  parishioners,  and  felloW-townflmen  ;  and  to  this 
charge  I  frankly  plead  guilty.  With  the  unreservedhess  of 
the  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  and  I  hope  with  a  little  of  his 
consciousness  of  right,  when'  he  stbod'  before  Felix  as  his 
judge,  and  in  presence  of  hie  ncdusers,  who  had  come  down 
from  Jerusalem  to  Cesarea  to  fcdlbW  up  a  prosecution  against 
him,  this  I  confess  unto  you,  **  that,  after  the  ^ay  which  they 
call  heresy,  so  worship  I  the  God  of  my  fathers,  believing 
al\  things  that  are  writt)en  in  the  lav  and  in  thd  prophets."  As 
Paul  wtis  permitted  to  make  his  alj^ology  before  Felix,  and 
was  attentively  heard  by  Hitn  through  the  whole  of  his  dis- 
course, notwithstanding  he  was  of  a  relijgion  wMchit  was  the 
design  and  tendency  of  Paul's  heresy  to  extirpate  ;  so  I  hope 
you  will  perttiit  me  to  make  my  apology*  be^t'e  you,  for  my- 
self, my  fellow  Christi^ans,  and  fellow  Countrymen,  with 
whom  1  have  the  honor  to  agree  in  what  oonci^rns  the  safety 

*  The  careless  reader  must  not  take  the  torn  apology  here  in  the  mom 
of  concession,  a»  it  is  more,  commonly  used,  for  no  concei&ion  it  intended ; 
bnt  in  the  scn&c  of  </f/in«,  which  it  the  proper  ecclesiastkal  sense,  as  we 
speak  of  the  apology  of  Justin  Martyr.       .4  ',  ..     ,.. 


and  prosperty  of  the  nation^  throagh  tke  whole  of  what  it  tliall 
seem  to  me  proper,  and  raaaonable  to  say  on  the  subject. 
The  i^ology  which  will  b's  offered  to  your  attention  will  go, 
in  the  whole  of  it,  to  the  defence  ef  this  heresy.    This  I  hope 
will  not  be  thought  unsuitable  to  the  occasion;  especially 
when  it  is  considered  what  kind  of  a  fast  it  is  that  God  hath 
chosen,  which  he  expressly  tells  us  is  this,  that  we    "  loose 
the  bands  of  wickedness,  undo  the  heavy  burdens,  let  the  op- 
pressed go  free,  and  that  we  break  every  yoke  ;  that  we  deal 
our  bread  to  the  hungry,  that  we  bring  the  poor  that  arc  cast 
out  to  our  house  ;  that  when  we  see  the  naked  we  cover  him, 
and  that  we  hide  not  ourselves  from  our  own  flesh ;"  and 
when  it  is  considered,  that  if  the  apology  shall  appear  to  be 
founded  in  truth  and  evidence,    abundant    causes  of  i>eni- 
tent  reflection  and  prayer  will  be  presented.    It  must  be 
obvious  besides,  that  this  will  perfectly  coincide  with  ihe  pro- 
clamation  which  has  called  us  together,  so  far  as  the  senti- 
ments expf  eased  in  it  coincide  with  evidence  and  fact. 
This  apology  will  be  i    ,-  ; 

I.  Personal.  i  ' 

II.  It  will  respect  th(i  body  of  Congregational  miniHtera, 
and  the  greater  body  of  Ameticanrptttriots,  who  atandcharged 
with  the  heresy  mentioned,  in  a  personal  view.   ;  n  r  ■      .v/> 

III.  It  will  respect  the  nature  (>f  this  heresy  ;  and     ;  br,  ■ 

;  'IV.  It  will  shew  what  will  be  the  salutary  and  benign  ef- 
fects, should  this  heresy  triumph  in  our  country,  and  supcr< 
cede,  by  a  general  influence,  that  philosophic  and  imlitical  or- 
thodoxy, which,  to  our  eye,  is  a  mere  system  of  infidelity,  in- 
fatuation and  ruin. 

In  the  first  place  then  you  will  permit  me,  that  this  apolo- 
gy should  he  a  little  personal.  It  is  not  indeed,  in  ordinary 
cases,  very  decorous  for  a  speaker  to  discourse  to  his  auditors 
respecting  himself.  But  on  some  occasions  it  is  warrantable, 
and  even  necessary;  and  we  have  many  examples  of  it  in  the 
sacred  scripture,  and  particularly  we  have  one  in  the  very  a- 
pology  of  Paul  which  is,  at  this  time,  before  us.  He  says  to 
Felix,  "  And  they  neither  found  me  in  the  temple  disputing^ 
with  any  man,  neither  In  the  synagogue,  nor  in  the  city  ; 


neither  can  they  prove  the  things  whereof  they  now  accuse 
me."  As  prejudices  are  known  to  exist  against  met  found- 
ed partly  in  religious,  partly*  perhaps  most)  in  political,  con- 
sideration ;  and  some  have  carried  their  most  unfounded  re- 
sentments so  far,  as,  for  a  time  at  least,  to  leave  my  congre- 
gation, a  short  personal  apology  will  not  be  deemed  improper. 

I  came  among  you,  my  friends, not  obtrusively,  but  in  com* 
pliancc  with  request.  My  settlement  here,  as  a  minister, 
was  not  in  consequence  of  any  solicitation  of  mine,  but  in  sub- 
mission to  the  almost  unanimous  and  repeated  call  of  the 
Church  and  Congregation. 

It  is  nearly  twenty  two  years  since  my  installation  took 
place  ;  almost  the  whole  of  the  Church,  who  united  in  this 
transaction,  are  in  their  graves.  But  a  single,  now  acting,  and 
resident,  male  member  survives.  A  large  proportion  of  what 
was  then  the  congregation  are  also  gone  to  the  bouse  of  si- 
lence. During  the  time  that  has  elapsed  since  my  installa- 
tion, according  to  the  maturity  of  your  years,  and  the  period  of 
your  residence  in  the  town,  I  have  been  in  the  midist  of  you, 
going  in  and  out,  in  the  pulpit,  at  conferences,  in  your  houses, 
at  the  bedside  of  sickness  and  death,  and  attending  your  fu- 
nerals. You  have  heard  my  doctrine  and  prayers,  and  you 
have  seen  my  conversation.  Certainly  a  thousand  weaknesses, 
and  deficiences  have  attended  them  ;  but  you  are  witnesses, 
and  God  also,  that  my  doctrine  has  been  according  to  his 
word  ;  that  in  prayer  I  have  sought  with  some  apparent  de- 
sire to  draw  down  spiritual  and  everlasting  blessings  upon 
you.  In  regard  to  my  moral  walk,  it  is  but  justice  to  say,  that 
I  have  coveted  no  man's  silver,  or  gold,  or  apparel  ;  ye,  yon 
yourselves  know,  that,  forabout  eighteen  years  I  have  patiently 
borne  the  reduction  of  my  stipulated  salary  to  about  half  its 
original  value,  and  that  these  hands  have  ministered  to  my 
necessities  and  to  them  that  have  been  with  me. 

In  regard  to  political  subjects  the  personal  apology  is  per- 
haps moi'C  important.  My  being  a  disciple  of  Christ  and  a 
minister  of  his  Gospel,  does  not  separate  me  from  civil  socie- 
ty, strip  me  of  civil  privileges,  or  make  it  proper  for  me  to 
he  indiflerent  to  the  safetv  and  welfare  of  the  nation.     I  have 


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in  com- 
ninister, 
t  in  Bub- 
1  of  the 

ion  took 
1  in  this 
ing,  and 
1  of  what 
90  of  si- 
installa- 
seriod  of 
tof  yoU} 
r  houseSf 
your  fu- 
and  you 
iknesseS) 
itnesscS) 
ig  to  his 
arent  de- 
tgs  upon 
)  say,  that 
;  ye,  you 
patiently 
thalf  itft 
sdto  my 

;y  is  pcr- 
ist  and  a 
Lvil  socic- 
)r  me  to 
I  have 


I 


»  right  with  other  citizens  to  the  elective  franchise,  and  to 
the  protection  oi  law,  to  form  opinions  of  public  men  and 
measures,  and,  en  all  suitable  occasions,  to  declare  them ; 
to  use  the  little  influence  I  possess  to  promote  the  good,  and 
prerent  the  evU.    At  the  same  time  you  perfectly  know, 
the  appeal  maf  be  made  to  all  my  people  with  safety  on  this 
point,  that  my  conversation  with  them  has  not  been  upon  polit- 
ical subjects  i  that  my  preaching  has  never  been  of  that  char- 
acter, except  one  or  two  fast  sermons,  which  some  have 
chosen  to  understand  as  partaking  somewhat  of  that  descrip- 
tion; and  that  almost  as  little  has  been  done  by  me  to  proselyte) 
as  if  no  political  controversy  existed.  Never  have  I  voted.  Pa- 
tiently have  I  given  up  my  rights  in  this  respect,  to  keep  in  a 
little  quiet,that  political  pt%judice,that8trongparty  seal,  which 
can  endure  nothing  but  what  is  promotive  of  its  own  designs. 
I  had  my  birth  and  education  in  a  State  more  perfectly  re- 
publican than  any  other.    When  the  revolutionary  war  began, 
I  was  too  young  to  be  obliged^  by  law,  to  perform  military  du- 
ty, and  never  was  liable  to  any  coercion  of  that  kind.    Yet  I 
repeatedly  volunteered  in  arms,  and  was  with  the  army  at  the 
most  perilous  periods,  and  in  the  most  perilous  situations. 
My  life  was  spared  to  permit  me  to  see  the  war  auspiciously 
terminated)  and  to  partake  in  the  general  joy,  which  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  independence  of  the  country,  and  the  res- 
toration of  peace,  produced.    Certainly  my  acquaintance  with 
political  subjects  was  then)  and  ever  has  becn^  limited  and  im- 
perfect.    A  little  attention  however  I  have  bestowed  on  these 
matters  ;  and  have  endeavoured  to  form  my  judgement,  im- 
partially and  upon!  evidence.*     Of   the  deHirabteness  and 

*  It  ii  true  that  religion  i*  the  proper  busiaess  of  the  Goipel  minister.  Yet 
it  is  not  to  be  forgotten  that  a  prosperous  civil  goveminer.t  is  intimately  con* 
nected  with  the  progreis  of  religiod— else,  Why  is  civil  government  an  or- 
dinance of  God  ?  And  do  hot  political  convuliioni,  and  espteiallya  state  oi 
war,  create  great  obstacles  to  the  progrefs  of  religion  P  The  same  benevolence 
then,  which  will  induce  a  minister,  to  seek  with  zeal  the  spiritual  good  of 
his  fellow  men,  will  lead  him  to  give  some  attention  to  political  subject:), 
and  to  seek  the  preservation,  and  welfare  of  the  government  under  which  li; 
lives.  And  there  is  no  situation  in  life,  more  exempt  from  ihalc  sinist  i  in. 
fluences  which  blind  the  understanding,  and  p'?rvert  the  iudj^cmcnt. 
B 


/ 


10 


light  ol"  oui*  independence,  as  a  people,  which  was  achieved 
by  this  war  ;  of  the  preferableness  of  a  republican  fonn  of 
government  to  that  of  any  other  imagined,  or  put  in  practice 
by  man  ;  of  the  excellency  of  our  Constitution  generally  con- 
sidered  ;  and  of  the  wisdomof  the  administration  of  it,  contem- 
plated on  a  like  general  scale,  <u)d  with  very  few  and  trifling 
exceptions,  during  the  first  twelve  years  it  was  in  operation! 
I  have  had  but  one  opinion.     My  political  creed  has  been  in- 
variable, as  that  of  my  religion.     Some  improvements  and 
additions  may  have  been  made  to  each  ;  but  the  ground-work 
has  been  unalterably  the  same.  And,  lest  I  should  be  tedious, 
in  protracting  this  personal  apology,  I  will  take  leave  only  in 
this  serious  and  public  manner  to  declare,  that  the  utmost  of 
my  wishes,  at  present,  is,  to  see  the  prudent  and  systemat- 
ic, the  impartial,  energetic  and  effectual  policy,of  Washikc- 
TON,  and  his  adherents,  return  ;  and  that  I  deliberately,  and  as 
much  as  ever,  prefer  a  republican  form  of  government,  to  any 
aristocracy,  monarchy,  or  despotism,  that  the  restlessness 
and  ambition  of  individuals  would  introduce.     I  declare  my- 
self a  friend  of  liberty  and  of  the  people  ;  and  to  be  opposed^ 
mostheartilyjto  every  thing  oppressive,in  Church  and  in  State. 
Do  not  these  fundamental  sentiments  accord  with  your  own  ? 
If  not,on  which  side  has  the  aberration  been  ?  Where  does  the 
real  political  heresy  stick  ?  If  they  do,  Is  there  so  great  a  dif- 
ference, at  bottom,  as  you  imagined  ?  And  why  these  resent- 
ments, and  these  unkind  and  indignant  expressions  of  them  ? 
Have  any  of  you  gone  to  the  school  of  French  atheism  and 
revolution,  the  hot-bed  of  faction  and  massacre,  faction  and 
massacre  inevitably  terminating  in  anarchy  or  despotism  ?  I 
I  have  not  gone  with  you,  and  never  will  go.     Have  you  con- 
jured up,  by  the  aid  of  political  magicians,  new-fangled  no- 
tions of  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man,  with  which  your  forefa- 
thers had  no  acquaintance  ?  />nd  have  you  entered  upon  the 
philosophic /irq/e;  of  extirpating  Christianity  ;  prostrating'the 
most  useful  religious  institutions,  which  it  has  been  the  glory 
of  New  England  to  have  so  carefully  cherished  ;  levelling  all 
distincticnsin  civil  society  j  equalizing  property,  and  opening 


M 


ichieved 
fonn  of 
practice 
illy  con- 
contem- 

trifling 
perationi 
been  in- 
BRts  and 
Lnd-work 
tediouft) 

only  in 
tmost  of 
lystemat- 
''ashikc- 
ly,  and  us 
nt,  to  any 
(tlessness 
dare  my- 
opposed) 
lin  State, 
our  own  i 
i  does  the 
reat  a  dif- 
se  resent- 
3f  them  ? 
leism  and 
iction  and 
otism  I  I 
!  you  con- 
ngled  no- 
•ur  forefa- 
upon  the 
rating'the 
the  glory 
veiling  all 
d  opening 


11 

the  flood-gates  of  lawless  licentiousness  ?  Then  we  are  funda- 
mentally at  disagreement ;  and  I  declare  to  you  plainly  that  I 
will  have  no  part  in  your  crimes  or  your  foHies. 

2.  The  apology  now  presented  is  to  have  respect  to  the 
great  body  of  Congregational  ministers,  and  the  greater  body 
of  Washingtonian  patriots,  through  the  country,  in  a  personal 
tiew.  This  apology  is  not  to  regard  their  conduct  as  men  ; 
still  less  is  it  to  go  to  prove  that  they  are  all  of  them  reli.u;ious 
men  ;  but  to  rebut  those  most  unjust  imputations,  and  the 
force  of  those  reproachful  epithets,  which  are  designed  to 
spread  an  inveterate  prejudice  against  them,  and  to  weaken 
and  disappoint  all  their  efforts  to  save  the  sinking  nation. 

It  is  a  fact,  perfectly  known  to  all  who  were  of  an  age  ad- 
milting  of  their  acquaintance  with  the  state  of  things  at  the 
devolution,  that  the  congregational  clergy  were,  almost  to  a 
man,  in  favour  of  what  was  called  the  cause  of  the  country. 
It  is  a  fact  that,  with  an  admirable  consistency  and  uniformity, 
which  has  distinguished  them  from  all  other  classes  of  men, 
they  have,  during  the  intervening  period,  retained  the  same 
principles  and  attachments,  and  held  the  same  ground.  It  is 
a  factthat,  at  the  present  moment,  they  hold  the  same  ground, 
and  feel  and  act  from  the  same  views.  The  exceptions  I  be- 
lieve, and  I  have  had  an  opportunity  to  know  them,  much  be- 
yond what  is  ordinary,  are  not  more  than  one  to  fifty. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  the  far  greater  body  of  Washingtonian 
patriots,  who  now  constitute  the  peace  party,  are,  with  a  few 
exceptions,  either  those  who  stood  boldly  forward  and  hazard- 
ed tHeir  lives  in  the  revolutionary  cause,  and  had  a  leading  and 
influential  agency  in  forming  and  adopting,  and,  when  formed 
and  adopted,  in  maintaining,  the  constitution  of  government 
which  we  still  enjoy  ;  or,  having  come  upon  the  stage  at  a 
later  period,  have  received  their  political  belief  and  impres- 
sions, justified,  as  they  imagine,  by  strong  evidence,  from 
them. 

It  is  well  known  that  great  efforts  have  been  made  a  few 
years  past,  by  spreading  infidel  books  and  forming  infidel  so- 
cieties ;  by  encouraging  sectaries  and  strengthening  tlieir  in- 
terest ;  by  attempting  to  change  the  laws  and  annul  the  coni" 


»> 


pacts,*  which  provide  for  their  svibustence ;  and  by  publishing 
libels,  destructive  of  their  reputation,  to  bear  down  the  fonder 
class  of  men,  the   congregational  ministers.    The  love  qf 
monarchy,  and  the  design  of  imposing  upon  the  people  a 
pompous  and  an  oppressive  hierarchy,  that  some  of  thev^i,  at 
least,  might  rise  to  deaneries  and  bishopricks  ;  a  resistance  of 
the  just  will  of  the  people,  toryism  &c.  have  been  imputed  to 
them.    They  have  been  represented  as,  I  know  nQt  how* 
combined,  with  the  leaders  of  a  reputed  aristocracy^  t,o  over- 
turn  republican  freedom,  and  either  to  throw  the  people  back 
under  the  power  of  Great-Britain,or  to  sink  them  undera  gov- 
emment  equally  oppressive.    They  have  been  denounced  in 
publications,  one  of  them  domestic  and  very  celebrated;  and 
which,  that  the  fame  of  its  author  might  lose  nothing  by  age, 
has  recently  had  the  honor  of  a  new  edition^  threatening  tliem 
with  being    shortly  silenced,  9pd    given    over,  with  their 
families,  to  want  and  penury,  if  they  did  not  submit  quietly  to 
the  triumphs  of  an  administration  which  they  verily  believed 
was  detroying  their  country.!     The  most  of  these  Christian 
ministers    I  personally   know,  their  sentiments  and  their 
course  of  action.     With  most  of  them  I  have  been  coversant 
in  ministerial  duty  and  acts  of  fellovvship.     They  are  my 
brethren.    With  pleasure  I  give  n>y  attestation  in  their  fa- 
vour. With  alacrity  will  I  goto  martyrdom  with  them  here*  if 
Providence  call  to  it,  as  I  hope  to  go  with  them  to  glory  here- 
after.    Where  is  the  evidence  which  supports  the  justness  of 
these  imputations  ?  Nothing  like  evidence  has  ever  been  pro- 
duced or  can  be  produced.     These  insinuations  I  know  to  be 
false.     A  word  savoring  of  monarchy  has  nrver  polluted  their 
lips.     Not  a  thought  of  it  has  entered  their  hearts.     To  all 
hierarchies,  which  admit  of  honorable  and  lucrative  Ecclesi- 
astical preferments,  they  are  decidedly  opposed.     They  are 
so  opposed  to  them  as  almost  to  think  it  an  abandonmen     of 
their  everlasting  hopes  to  commune  with  an  Episcoplian. 
They  are  friends  of  the  people,  firm  and  ardent.     They  are 
not  monarchists.     In  politicks  they  are  genuine  republicans. 
When  they  go  into  the  ministry,  I  speak  of  the  main  body 
•  Note  [4.]  +  Note  [JJ.] 


m 


19 

of  themi  their  object  is  to  serve  their  iaWoyr  men  in  re|;ard  to 
to  their  beat  interests,  and  this  is  their  conscAe.ntipus  ai)d 
prayerful  endeavour  through  their  piinistiy.  This  is  their, 
profession,  and  of  th^  sincerity  of  the.if  profession,  you  have  a 
thousand  proofs.  Thip  you  oughf  to  believe  tiU^jjrou  liayp 
some  evidenqc  to  the  conti^iy,      f  '»   .    •  ,     .  ^      ,      ,  . 

It  is  equs^ly  veUJknQWii  that  the  greater  body  of  Waslv 
Ingtoni^n  patriots  an^  repuhlip^s,  because  they  were  not 
for  goio^  all  the  lengths  of  a  tumultuous  and  foolish  demo- 
cracy, have  been  denounced  as  ^  tones  a^d  monarchists,  trai- 
tors and  tyrants,*    >y  design  to  bring  on  ^  monarchy,  o^  to 
get  the  naxiou  bjPkck ^gai9  w4?.r  the  poFcr  of  Great-Britain 
has  been  imputed  to  them^    XJud^f  the  force  of  these  jfjE^rQ- 
sentations  and  od^ou^  epith&Ubi49>riPS  ipdividuals  hayi?  h^^ep 
e^Qite4  to  treat  ,thp;)o  w,ith  opjpreasive,  and  v)jur|,ouif  violence, 
and,  in  some  ■recpnt   instaiiiqeQ^  yri^th  QUtrji^^    aod  j^nrder. 
Where  is  th^  .evidence  of  .^^^  tn^th  of ,  che^^^  |ip[>^ujtaUp|^ 
Is  it  in  the  self-consi^ji^ncy  o^  the^r^.'^iRcipl9.9>  aqid  their  zealf 
for  the  preservation  o|  the  Constitution  and  of  the  Independ- 
ence of  their  Country  ?  Is  it  in  their  att?ichment  to  the  per:, 
son,  and  sentimei^ts,  and  policy  of  Washington  ?  h  it  in 
theif  preference  Qf  the  i^eutrality  he  endeavoured  to  main- 
tain, to  a}l  alliajpces  with  foreign  governments  ?  Is  it  in  theij: 
wish  to  secure  to  the  American  peopje  such  a  proiital>ie  com- 
mercial intercourse  with    Great-Qritain  as  «vill  take  your 
surplus  produce  00*  your  hands,  which  is  useless  to  you,  and 
give  you,  in  return  for  it,  their  valuable  msjinufa^tures,  which, 
while  it  feeds  the  families  of  thousands  of  poor  manufacturers 
in  their  dominions,  would  give   a  spring  to  industry,  and 

multiply  improvements  in  your  own  Country  ?  Is  it  in  their 
abstinence  from  every  thing  like,  insurrection  and  i*ebcllion, 
and  their  adherence  to  the  laws,  and  their  obedience 
to  them,  when,  in  their  judgment,  they  are  partial  and 
oppressive  ?  Is  it  in  the  zeal  with  which  ihey  generally 
countenance  and  support  those  valuable  literary  and  reli- 
gious institnAtions,  which  have  been  transmitted  to  us  by 
our  ancestors,   and  without  the  maintenance  and  influence 

'  ■'   ■■     •Note  [C]  ^i'.     ,  -.  ••    ..    .• 


u 


i  t 


otWhIcti  we  mtisiiiievUabljr  revert  back  to  barbarous  ignd« 
rancC)  and  alt  the  stupidity  of  heathenism  ?  Is  it  in  their  pre- 
ference of  peace  to  the  cohfusiotis  and  desolations  of  war  ? 
Or  is  it  in  the  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth  expositions  of 
Hfehry  ?  Miserable  evidence '.Poor  support  to  the  mere 
clamour  of  words  !  Depend  u^oii  it,  my  hearers,  these  are 
all  scarish  tales,  inventeid  and  propagated  to  answer  a  pur- 
pose. These  people  are  as  'fkr'from  b^iiig  tones  and  mon'< 
archists' ;  as  far  from  whatever  partbikes  df  suf>jugation  to  a 
foreign  power,  or  natidnal'Stitiidfe  ;  they  ai-e  as  far  from  wish-? 
ing  to  introduce  any  meas'iireswliich  shall  impede  the  public 
prosf)ienty,  as'W  arreh,  or  Montgoimeiy,  or  Mercer,  or  any 
of tb^  bravelierbcs  were,  wh'diii  you  have '  been  Hccustomed 
to  Eulogize  in  'ybiir  atinus^  repi]A)Iiban  festivals. 

^  They  deplored  Indeed 'that  me'^d  dietlensioh^  Which  has 
turhciaus  away  f'rdiA  'flie'  ddbet'  habits  of  the  first'  planters 
of New-Eirigtind:  '  Tliey  d(^pl6'^^,  lind '  it  is  confessed  that, 
keeipihg  themselves  within  thcilr  'dbn^titutional  rights,  they  do 
resist,  ihatl  mistaken  j^olity  Whibh  oegan  wrong,  and  has  been 
perpetually  going  from  bad  to' wbts^  ;  which  has  sunk  your 
national  character  in  the  ^yesof  all  mankind  ;  %hich  has  de- 
nied bread  to  poor  ajid  suffering  foreigners,  whien  we  had 
abundance  of  it  to  spare,  and  oppressed  a  large  proportion 
of  your  fellow-citizens  ;  which  has  destroyed  your  revenues, 
exhausted  your  treasury,  and  palsied  your  arm  ;  which  has 
almost  annihilated  your  commerce,  and  is  abbut  to  press 
you  down  with  a  heavy  direct  taxation  ;  a  policy,  which, 
in  their  judgments,  was  bringing,  and  which  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  majority  in  Congress  explicitly  acknowledged  had 
brought,  you  into  that  situation,  that  the  cord  put  about  your 
neck  had  only  to  be  drawn  a  little  tighter,  and  you  would  ex- 
pire. They  labour  to  wrest  the  Country  from  this  thraldom  ; 
and  to  restore  it  to  its  former  independence  and  prosperity. 
Is  this  wrong  ?  No,  it  is  right.  Then  it  is  a  serious  and 
solemn  question,  which  you  aro  called  upon  this  day  to  re- 
solve, whether  you  are  not  sacredly  bound  to  recal  these  foul 
aspersions,  and  take  ofi*  these  restraints  ;  to  loose  these 
bands  of  wickedness,  and  undo  these  heavy  burdens  ;  to  let 


t/if 


T  ■• 


1 

';r, 

/■ 

'I 


K 


15 

your  oppicBsed  fellow*citizens  and    Country  go  free,  md 
and  break  every  yoke  ;  to  deal  your  bread  to  the  hungry, 
and  hide  not  yourselves  from  your  ©wn  flesh. — This  apolo- 
gy is» 
III.  To  respect  the  nature  of  the  neresy  denounced.— 

We  will  remember    it  is,  disagreement  with  the    admin^ 
istration  of  our  government  in ,  the  character  it  hat  choaen 
to  aatumCi  in  the  course  it  haa  tak,^**  aince  it  went  int<y  o/iera^ 
tiont  in  ita  reatrictive  meaaurea^  and  particularly  in  regard 
to  the  war  into  which  it  haa  recently  plunged  the  nation.   This, 
which  they  call  heresy,  we  contend  is  legitimate  and  soun<i 
doctrine  ;  and  while  the  evidence  lies  before  us  as  it  does^ 
and  especially  as  it  is  so  incontrovertibly  founded  in  all  things 
which  are  written  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets,  we  frankly 
declare,  that  we  must,  according  to  it,  worship  the  God  of 
our  fathers.    Our  prayers  and  adorations  must  be  in  coinci- 
dence with,  and  cannot  be  opposed  to,  it.     To  defend  this 
heresy  it  is  not  necessary  that  we  should  go  back  to  the  origi- 
nal character  of  the  administration^  or  trace  its  winding  pro- 
gress through  the  twelve  tedious  years  that  are  past.      It  is 
not  necessary  to  look  after  the  effects  of  the  restrictive  sys- 
tem, which,    whatever    was  its  intention    with  respect  to 
France,   was,  in  fact^    perfectly  coincident  with  that  new 
species  of  warfare,  which  her  relentless  and  aspiring  Em- 
peror, had  undertaken  to  prosecute  against  a  rival  govern- 
ment, which  he  determined,  by  fair  or  by  foul,  to  overwhelm, 
and  thus  open  his  way  to  universal  empire  ;  and  which  was 
designed  to  coerce  Great-Britain,  by  augmenting  the  miseries 
of  thousands  of  its  poor  manufacturers,  and  thus  forcing  them 
into  insurrections.  Something  of  this  effect  this  system  could 
not  but  have.     But  it  could  not  produce  such  an  effect  upon 
so  extensive  a  scale,  as  to  warrant  it,  even  if  it  were  just; 
because  many  of  its  former  advocates  have,  upon  experiment, 
frankly    acknowledged    its    ineflRcacy    and  folly ;    and  be- 
cause, while  it  scourged  Great-Britain  with  whips,  it  scourg- 
ed our  own  Couniry  with  scorpions.      It  is  not  neccssar)',  I 
say,  to  trace  the  cftects  of  these  measures  inasmuch  as  their 
character  is  more  cUsiinctly  exposed  in  that  tbey  have  rciiult- 


,..^— y^  J,-*.*, 


*-••  < 


16 

<d1n  the  far tnoriiinteretliiig cvwitof  wttr ;  an  event  more 
doMly  connected  with  fellgidut  coilsid«fc«tionv}  an  evdilt  in 
which  conscience  is  deeply  concemedt  and  in  regai^'  to 
which  we  have  a  high  responsibility  to  God.  The  hereqr  al» 
leged  against  us  is  denounced  by  the  administration  aAd'  its 
adherents  on  this  account  principally,  that  it  is  opposed  to  tUls 
war.  We  lament  the  war,  and  wish  its  tennination  as  speedi- 
ly as  possible.  We  are  for  peace,  and  would  worship  the 
God  of  our  fiMhers,  in-  the  spirit,  in  the  security,  in  the 
praaice  of  ail  the  attendant  virtiies,  and  ih  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  the  attenddttt  comforts^  of  pbace.  With 
diis  desire,  and  with  benevoliBnt  regahls  to  the  country 
against  which  we  are  ealled  upon  to  lift  thd  hand  of  slaughter, 
which  we  connder  as  muntaining,  at  an  immense  expense j  a 
noble  struggle  with  a  power,treftding,  as  fkst  as  it  can  proceed, 
upon  all  the  governments:  of  the  world,  and  which  embosoms 
thousands  and  thousand!  of  our  Christian  brethren,  we  op- 
pose the  war.  This  opposition  is  the  i)eculiarly  offensive 
feature  of  the  heresy.  And  here  we  are  ready  with  our  de- 
fence. This  defence  cannot,  because  the  occasion  would  not 
justify  it,  and  it  need  not,}go  into  those  miniite  points  of  con- 
troversy which  relate  to  national  law,  to  treaties,  aiid  ques- 
tions of .  right,  which  perhaps  &te  not  perfiectly  understood, 
even  by  many  learned  civilians,  and  which  properly  belong  to 
diplomatic  discussion.  Surely  no  disagreement  upon  these 
points  ought  to  draw  a  reasonaUe  people  into  a  war,  and  espe- 
cially an  offensive  one.  The  defence  will  be  general,  and  in 
views  which  will  probably  be  plain  to  the  most  of  my  auditors. 
In  the  ^rst  place,  we  are  not  bound  to  acquiese  in  this  wart 
and  cooperate  with  the  administration  in  prosecuting  it  mere- 
ly because  it  is  declared  by  the  government.  To  say  that  we 
ought  to  approve  of  the  war  and  unite  with  its  advocates  in 
prosecuting  it,  merely  because  it  is  an  act  of  the  govemmenf, 
is  to  say,  that  the  rights  of  judgment,  and  of  conscience  are  aH 
absorbed  in  its  will ;  that  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance 
only  belong  to  us  ;  that  we  are  to  make  no  enquiries,  and  nev- 
er utter  a  word  expressive  of  our  opinions  ;  and  that,  though 
the  determinations  of  government  are  counter  to  the  express 


J 


}■  ■' 


'■■■'./' 


If 


to 

b1. 

its 

Vis 

edi* 


i«quirements  of  God,  and  so  founded  in  moral  wrong  is 
to  impel  us  forward  to  mere  sceties  of  plunder  and  butchery  ; 
of  so  absurd  as  to  require  us  to  shut  ourselves  up  in  our  res- 
pective dwellings  until  we  bring  on.  disease  and  famine^  and 
expire  in  one  promiscuous  death,  they  must  heverthdess  be 
obeyed.  We  appeal  to  the  scripture,  Which  expressly  de- 
clares, that  "  we  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men/*  We 
appeal  to  the  pious,  and  indeiiendently  heroic  resolutions  of 
the  three  captive  Jews,  whose  example  is  evidently  put  down 
for  oiir  imitation,  and  who  boldly  said  to  the  proud  monarch 
of  Babylon,  "  But  if  not,  be  it  known  unto  thee  O  king,  that 
we  will  not  serve  thy  God,  nor  worship  th6  golden  image 
thou  hast  set  up."  We  appeal  to  all  the  martyrdoms  which  a* 
dom  the  Christian  history,  which  have  been  submitted  to  rath- 
er than  obey  commahds  cdunter  to  the  spirit,  the  objects,  and 
the  precepts  of  Christianity.  We  appeal  to  the  examples  of 
our  ancestors  ;und  we  ask.  Where,  upontheprlnciple  of  such 
a  profound  submissifsn  to  arbitrary  will,  is  to  be  found  the  de- 
fence of  our  Revolution  ?      •     '     ■■'■'.     ' 

In  the  second  place,  this  opposition  is  defensible,  in  tha(  it 
is  in  the  exercise  of  those  rights  which  the  Constitution  guar- 
antees, and  does  not  operate  in  tumult,  insurrection,  rebellion 
and  outrage.  It  is  merely  an  expression  of  sentiment,  un  or- 
derly cooperation,  in  pursuing  such  measures  as  are  supposed 
to  have  the  most  direct  and  powerful  tendency  to  restore 
peace,  and  a  declining  to  do  those  things  which  might  be  pro- 
motive of  the  war,  but  which  neither  the  constitution  nor  the 
laws  require.  This  orderly  appearance  of  the  opposition  is 
an  index  of  its  nature,  especially  when  contrasted  with  the 
usurpations,  the  tumults,  the  insurrections  and  scenes  of  out- 
rage there  have  been  on  the  other  side  ;  and  presents  a  strong 
presumptive  argument,  at  least,  that  it  is  right  Let  us  not  be 
highly  criminated  till  we  attempt  to  force  do»vn  the  constitu- 
tion, or  violate  the  laws.* 

3.  This  opposition  is  defensible  upon  the  ground  that  the 
■ftrar  is  most  plainly  repugnant  to  the  entire  spirit,  and  the  ex- 
press precepts  of  our  holy  religion.     This  is  not  a  dcreniive, 

•Ncte[Z).] 


IS 


war.  It  cannot,  wkh  any  propriety,  be  pretended  to  be  lo.  A 
defen&ive  war  is  one  which  repels  an  invading  enemy,  and 
whose  life  you  take  away  merely  to  save  yotir  own.  A  sim- 
ple pretext  of  injury,  in  property  or  boime  other  way,  does  not 
make  a  war  defensive.  What  offensive  war  has  there  ever 
been,  which  was  sot  ostenubly  grounded  upon  such  a  pre- 
teait  ?  Real  injury,  affecting  partially  the  minor  interests  of 
society,  and  which  is  short  of  an  attempt  upon  the  independ* 
ence  of  a  community  or  an  invasipn  of  its  territory,  cannoc 
give  to  a  war,  on  the  part  of  those  who  declare  it,  and  who  av* 
first  In  warlike  operations,  the  character  of  defensive.*-— 
Where  and  when  have  you  been  invaded  I  What  part  <»f  your 
country  has  been  overrun  by  the  British  forces  i  NiOt^iing 
like  this  appears.  .,.<..,/       . 

It  is  said  indeed  that  the  savages  have  been  instigated  to 
make  war  upon  our  frontiers*  This  is  said  ;.  but  no  evidence 
of  It  appears.  But  suppose  it  could  be  proved  that  this  has 
been  done  by  some  unpnncipled  individuals,  or  even  some 
subordinate  officers  of  the  British  goveroment— Does  it  fol- 
low that  it  has  been  done  by  the  government  itself  ?  Is  it  not 
to  be  supposed  that  there  are  many  cases,  on  both  sid^s,  in 
which  individuals  do  wrong,  without  any  authority  whatever 
from  the  government  todo  so,  and  against  both  itsinterest  and 
its  will  ?  And  will  you  rush  on  the  master,  and  put  him  and 
all  his  fiimily  to  death,  because  one  of  his  apprentices  has  don^ 
you  an  injury  ?  And  have  you  remonstrated  to  the  govern- 
ment, respecting  this  supposed  covert  attack  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  your  frontiers,  and  waited  for  a  reply  to  this  remon- 
strance ?  Has  not  the  minister  and  representative  of  thb  gov- 
ernment near  your  own,  come  forward,  without  being  asked 
for  explanation,  and,  with  an  apparent  earnest  desire  to  shield 
his  government  from  every  such  aspersion,  and  to  inspire  the 
American  people  with  confidence  that  it  is  utterly  without 
foundation,  disavowed  every  kind  and  measure  of  such,  insti- 
gation I  But  there  is  a  reason  which  is  paramount  to  all  others 
and  perfectly  conclusive,  in  my  mind,  against  this,  and  many 
other  similar  allegations,  that  it  has  been  decidedly  the  policy, 

*  Note  [£.] 


4 

i 


1» 

and  the  evidently  strong  desire,  of  the  British  government  to  f 
be  at  peace  with  us.  There  are  powerful  reasons  for  this,  ^ 
which  it  is  plain,  they  have  very  sensibly  felt,  and  which,  to  a , 
person  of  the  least  observation,  are  obvious*  They  had  a  po- 
tent and  determined  enemy  to  resist,  who  threatened  them  : 
with  invasion  and  destruction  ;  and  to  withstand  whom^  it  re- 
f[uired  all  their  national  energies  to  be  brought  into  action.— 
And  never  has  there  been  a  moment  when  it  was  safe  fur 
them  to  intermit  these  exertions.  They  never  could  wish  to 
add  to  the  resbtance  they  had  to  overcome  the  hostile,  land 
and  naval,  armaments  of  this  country.  Tlu:y  had  nothing  to 
gain  by  a  war  with  us.  For  the  few  captures  they  could  make 
of  our  piivateers  and  mecchantshlps,  would  not  probably  ex-  ■ 
coed  the  number  they  would  lose  ;>er^  at  best,  the  excess  of 
captures  must  be  worth  less  to  them,  ibeyond  all  comparison, 
than  our  trade  ;  and  the  subjugation /Of  the  country  has  ever 
been  entirely  oat  «!  the  question.  Our  trade  has  been  of 
great  importance  to  them,  not  only  for  the  nett  profit  of  it,  but 
•to  keep  their  numerous  manufacture!^  in  employment  and 
satisfied,  and  they  have  studiously  endeavoured  to  preserve  it. 
Farther  proof  we  have  in  the  protection  often  extended  to 
our  merchant  vessels ;  la  their  readiness  to  negotiate  ;  their' 
missions  of  public  agents  to  thb  country  in  succession,  and 
notwithstan^ng  some  of  them  have  been  treated  with  indigni** 
ty  ;  the  liberality  of  several  public  acts  in  favor  of  our  com^ 
inerce ;  and,  lastof  all,which  is  a  very  recent  event,the  prompt, 
and  unconditional  manner  in  which  they  have  revoked  their  de^ 
creea  in  Council,  as  soon  as  they  became  possessed  oi  a  proper 
revocation  of  the  decrees  of  Berlin  and  Milan,  by  the  French 
Emperor  ;  and  their  furnishing  our  ships,  laden  with  valua- 
ble cargoes  and  leaving  their  dominions,  with  passports,  se- 
curing  them  from  capture  by  their  ships  of  wai*,  in  confidence 
that  our  non4niportation  laws  would  be  repealed,  yet  wilhoiit 
the  knowledge  that  they  certainly  would.  With  these  things 
in  view,  it  seems  to  me  that  no  man  in  his  sober  senses  can 
question,  but  that,  as  it  has  been  certainly  the  policy  so  ii  has 
in  fact  been  the  strong  dcsire,of  the  British  government  to  re- 
main at  peace  with  us«     And  this  ought  to  go  far  with  us,  and 


-*i.M^ 


indeed  to  be  conclasive,  unless  we  have  wtry  clear  and  indubi- 
table evidence  to  the  contrary^  that  these  allegations  are  not 
founded  in  truth.  .  i 

As  to  the  impressment  of  our  native  seamen,  which  has 
been  so  long  a  subject  of  controversy,  and  interested  the  pub- 
lic feeling  so  deeply,  there  have  been  undoubtedly  wrongs. 
But  the  evidence  seems  to  be  that  they  are  reciprocal,  the 
most  aggravated,and  perhaps  the  most  numerous  on  their  side^ 
But  this  is  a  matter  of  negotiation.    It  has  been  once,  at  least, 
in  a  course  of  amicable  adjustment,  and  would  in  fact  have 
been  adjusted,  upon  terms  satisfactory  to  our  own  public  min- 
isters, if  we  had  chosen  to  have  it  so.     Their  government 
have  disclaimed  the  right  of  impressing  native  Americans, 
and  of  retaining  them  when  impressed.     And  their  public 
minister,  Mr.  Foster,  has  formally  assured  our  goverment, 
that  upon  proper  infoi*m:ltion  and  evidence,  every  such  per- 
son  should  iyc  sought  out  and  released.     We  ishall  find  noth- 
ing hexe  then  to  prove  that  this  war  is  a  defensive  war. 
'As  to  the  other  source  of  complaint,  the  blockade  of  a  part 
of  the  coast  of  France,  lining  the  English  Channel  ;  that  is  a 
point  of  doubtful  disputation,  and  to  us  of  trivial  consequence, 
unless  we  choose  to  take  part  with  the  French  Emperor  in  all 
his  quarrels,  and  assist  hitn,to  the  titmost  of  our  ability ,to  sub- 
jugate the  world.     We  then  have  declared  this  war  against 
Great-Britain,  and  invaded  their  territories,  when  they  gave 
us  strong  proofs  of  their  reluctance  to  enter  into  the  combat. 
Nor  is  it  to  be  forgotten,  if  we  would  be  impartial  in  our  en- 
quiries, that  they  have  their  complaints  and  pleas  as  well  as 
■we.     If  we  complain  that  some  of  our  seamen  have  been  un- 
justly impressed;  they  complain  that  we  ha^e  encouraged 
the  desertion  of  their  seam6n,  by  holding  out  to  them  the* 
prospect  of  high  wages,  and  that  personal  liberty  and  safety 

which  our  laws  of  naturalization  extend  to  thera  ;  and 
that  we  have  in  fact  detached  multitudes  of  them  from 
their  allegiance,  and  decoyed  them  into  our  mercantile  ser- 
vice, to  the  great  reduction  of  their  physical  means  of  de- 
fence.* 

•  Note[f.] 


ft 


*JI 


They  have  captured  some  of  our  vessels  in  execution  ol ' 
their  decrees  in  Council.     But  they  plead  that  these  decreet 
are  altogether  defensive,  and  that  the  execution  ot'them  is  ea-' 
sential  to  their  existence,  as  a  maritime   and  commerci-.tl  na-* 
tion,  -whose  destruction  their  enemy  was  seeliinia;  by  every  * 
mean  in  hh  power.     Are  we  sure  that  this  plea  is  not  well  i 
fouiided»and  that  webughtnot  to  have  submitted  to  such  a 
small  rediictibn    of  our    commercial    profit^    rather    than 
strengthen  the  hands  of  this  cinielibe  ?   Thei  question  then- 
comes  really  to  tHift  ;  Have  I  a  right  to  become  the  open  rno-" 
my  of  my  unofTcriding  neighbour,  who  wishes  to  live  peacea- 
bly by  me,  and  to  maintain  an  intercoui's^  which  shall  be' 
mutually  advantageous  f  Have  I  a  'right  to  rise  upon  hiiii," 
and  to  kill  hittl,  because  he  dedthes  to  submit  to  certain  terms 
of  doubtful  equity  Hvhich  I  prescribe  to  him  ?  It  appears  to' 
me  that  the  conscience  of  every  man,  who  has  not  a  pretty' 
strong  inclination  to  shed  the  blood  of  his  fellow  creatiirei 
must  determine  instantly  in  the  negative.     And,  W  hat  says' 
the  Qcripture,  that  infellible  authority,  to  which  we  are  to  ap-' 
peal  in  all  questions  of  moral    right  ?    To    the    enquiry, 
<^  Whence  c6me  wars  and  fightings  among  you  ;'*  it  replies^ 
by  the  farther  enquiry,  **  Come  they  not  hence,  even  of  your^ 
Itasts  that  war  in  your  members?"  One  of  its  express  laws- 
is,  ((  Thou  Shalt  not  kill."     It  tells  you  that  he  that  hareth 
his  brother  is  a  murderer  ;  and  that  no    murderer    hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him.     It  assures  you  that  '<  he  that 
doth  wrong  shall  receive  for  the   wrong  that  he  hath  done, 
and  that  there  is  no  respect  of  persons."     It  Informs  you 
that  *^  he  that  taketh  the  sword  shall  perish  with  the  sword.*' 
It  instructs  you  to  recompense  no  man  evil  even  fur  evil; 
and,  if  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in  you,  to  live  peacea- 
bly with  ail  mien.     It  pathetically  entreats,  <<  Dearfy  beloved§ 
avenge  not  yourselves,  but  rather  give  place  unto  wrath  ; 
for  it  is  written,  vengeance  is  mine,  1   will  repay,  saith  the 
Lord. '  Therefore,  if  thine  enemy  hvmger,   feed  him;  if  he 
thirst,  give  him  drink.    Be  not  overcome  of  evil ;  but  over- 
come evil  with  good."     It  goes  farther  :  your  Redeemer  thus 
addresses  you,  "  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said,  An 


eye  for  an  eye,  and  »  tuuth  for  a  tooth .  But  I  say  ante  you  that 
ye  resist  not  evil,  but  wliosoever  shall  smite  the*  on  thf 
right  cheekt  turn  the  other  ulso  ;  and  if  any  roan  will  su« 
thee  at  the  law,  and  take  away  thy  coat,  let  him  hav«  thy 
rioak  also  :  And  whosoever  shall  compel  thee  to  go  a  milet 
go  with  him  twain.  Yc  have  heard  tliat  it  bath  been  saidt 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour,  and  hate  thine  enemy.  But 
I  say  unto  you,  love  your  enemies ;  bless  them  that  curse 
you  ;  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  fur  them 
which  despitefuUy  use  you  and  persecute  you  i  that  ye  may 
be  the  children  of  your  father  which  is  in  heaven  j  for  he 
roaketh  his  son  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and 
aendeth  rain  on  the  jubt  and  on  the  unjust."      .,,  ^f,^, ,  if,,;,),,.  . 

See  then  how  the  Scripture  arrays  itself)  by  clear  and 
pathetic  instructions,  in  defence  of  the  heresy  according  to 
which  we  worship  the  God  of  our  fathers  ! 

Think,  my  brethren,  of  the  spirit  and  effects  of  war. 
What  malignant  and  furious  passions  does  it  excite  !  What 
tumults  and  terrors,  what  disorders  and  crimes  does  it  pro- 
duce !  What  desolationji  does  it  spread !  What  scenes;  of 
horror  does  it  present !  How  opposite,  in  its  iiatare,  and  in 
all  its  effects,  to  that  charity  which  is  so  distinctly  delineated 
by  the  sacred  penmen,  and  of  which  our  holy  Redeemer  wa» 
a  perfect  example ;  which  suifereth  Kmg  and  is  kind  ;  irhicb 
envicth  not,  and  vaunteth  not  itself  which  is  not  easily  pro- 
voked, and  thinketh  no  evil  I 

Faither,  0«r  Lord  gives  us  a  lessen  of  wisdom  which 
is  particularly  apposite  to  thi«  subject.  He  asks  <*  For 
which  of  you,  intending  to  build  a  house,  sitteth  not  down 
first  and  counteth  the  cost,  wbetber  he  hav^e  sufficient  to 
build  it  ?  Lest,  haply,  after  he  hath  laid  the  fininds^on,  aOd 
is  not  able  to  finish  it,  all  that  behold  him,  begin  tomock  him^ 
saying.  This  man  began  to  build  and  was  aot  aUe  to  finish* 
Or,  What  king,  going  to  make  war  with  another  king,  sitteth 
not  down  firstj  and  consuiteth,  whether  he  be  able,  vcith  ten 
thousand,  to  meet  him  that  coroeth  against  him  with  twenty 
thousand  i  Or  else,  while  the  other  is  a  great  way  off,  he 
sendeth an  ambassage,  and  desireth  conditions  of  peace.  Upon 


j)»,WK'rtiSS»t'«  li*««^»JfcV, 


t> 


th«  Btrengtb  of  Umm  letiont  of  a  cautUmAiy    wMdom^  I 
would  therefore  remark)  ,r..;... 

4.  That  k  is  a  con«deratioii  «rhkh  goes  far  indeed  in  de- 
fence of  the  heresy  mentioned,  that  the  war  is  entered  upon> 
in  the  most  ioauspidoua  circumstances,  and*witK  ecarce  a 
shadow  of  a  proapect  of  aucc^ts,  and  wUh  the  moral  certaintf) 
if  it  proceeds,  of  extingiiiahing  wtMt  remains  of  eur  foreign 
commerce,  and  brin^^g  upon  the  nation  a  debt,  and  taxation 
wliich  it  will  not  be  able  to  bear.     Has  oui*  government  aitten 
down  wisely  and  eatiroated  the  strength  of  the  nation  thef 
have  made  their  enemy,  and  their  own  strength  ^  Have  they 
not  dona  exactly  otherways  ?  Have  they  not  fti stent  off  their 
own  arms,  and  then,  with  the  bleeding  stamps,  rushed  on 
the  object  of  their  vengeance,  shielded  in  every  part,  well 
armed  tu  destroy,  and  of  gigantic  strengtli  I  Divided,  as  we 
are ;  the  great  majority  in  the  northern    sections  of  the 
country,  where  only  the  power  of  doing  any  thing   effectually 
exists,  decidedly  opposed  to  the  war  ;  its  advocates  irreso* 
late,  at  least  in  the  point  of  quitting  their  homes,  and  offering 
tbems^ves  to  the  battle  ;.  a  conaiderable  debt  already  upon 
our  handi  i  our  commence  and  revenue  next  to  annihilated  ; 
our  treasury  exhausted,  and  without  a  navy,  how  great  is  our 
wealuEiess  I  And  is  not  the  nation  we  have  challenged  to  thia 
combat  shielded  in  every  part,  and  of  gigantic  strength  ?  Is 
net  their  ability  perpetually  on  the  increase,  notwithstanding 
they  have  carried  on  along  war  with  the  greatest  power  in  the 
world,  next  to- themaelves  I  Are  not  their  dominions, their  po- 
pulation, and  their  means  immense  ?  Have  they  not  a  prodi-- 
gious  force  on.  the  land,  organized  in  every  part  of  it,  and 
ready  for  action  I    And  how'  very  powerful  is  their  marine  ? 
Have  they  lost  a  foot  of  gvouud  for  the  few  years  past,  or  a 
single  battle  ?  How  invariably  do  they  triomph  at  sea  !  Al- 
ready doi  their  ships  of  war  line  our  coasts,  and  spread  des- 
truction among  our  privateers  and  merchant  vessels.     This 
is  in  consequence  of  our  declaring  war  against  them.     And 
where  will  the  destruction  stop  ?  We  arc  to  calculate  merely 
upon  loss,  vast  expenditures,  and  national  degradation.     Ex- 
pedience then  comes  in  strong-ly  to  the  support  of  the  heresy^ 


24 


according  to  which  we  think  it  ourdiity  to  worship  the  God 
of  our  fathers.  . 

lu  the  fifth  and  last  pkcc,  thia  opposition  jut  reasonable 
and  just,  and  even  a  matter  of  most  imperious  rtecessity,  be* 
cause  there  are,  such  clear  indications  of  an  understanding, 
and  a  coalition  between  our  administration,  and  the  imperial 
despotof  Europe  ;  aiding  his  nefarious  designs,  and,  in  its 
proper  tendency,  subjecting  us  to  his  Avill.     Not  to  descend 
to  minute  particulars,  whicli  have  been  iwticed  by  writers 
well  acquainted  with  these  subjects,  we  need  only  look  at 
the  aspect  of  palpable  and  undisguised  facts.     Have  we  not 
Frenchmen  in  office  ?   Have  we  not  Frenchmen  in  our  cities 
who  are  ardent  in  their  national  partialities,  and  who  feel 
themselves  under  so  much  countenance  here,  that  they  dare 
to  attempt  to  exasperate  the  citizens  against  each  other,  and 
to  subvert  the  government ;  dare  to   trample  on  the  laws, 
stop  the  course  of  public  information,  and  tumultuously  and 
murdurously,  and  by  unparalleled  barbarities,  to  uke  away 
the  lives  of  our  citizens  ?  Has  not  the  French  Emperor  told 
us  that  he  will  have  no  neutrals,  and  that  in  fact  we  were  at 
war  with  Great-Britain,  long  before  tlie  formal  declaration  of 
it  ?  Have  not  our  restrictive  measures  been  in  perfect  agree- 
ment with  his  continental  system  I  Has  not  the  declaration  of 
war  exactly  coincided  with  his  wishes    and  expectations  I 
Has  he  not  relaxed,  and  finally  revoked,  his  decrees,  in  rc- 
!^ect  to  us,  upon  this  ground  ?  Was  not  the  declaration  of 
war  a  matter  of  congratulation  between  its  advocates  in  Con- 
gress, and  the  French  minister  at  the  elbow  of  our  cabinet  I 
Does  not  the  war  operate  in  favour  of  the  Emperor's  designs, 
just  as  though  it  was  in  fact  in  obedience  to  his  will  ?  Then,  if, 
the  evidence  falls  something  short  of  conclusively  proving  a 
coalition  which  amounts  to  a  proper  alliance,  or  rather  a  vas- 
sal subjection,  it  is  of  such  an  aspect  as  to  be  greatly  alarming, 
and  as  furnishes  abundant  cause  to  deplore  this  war,  and  to  in- 
duce us  to  make  every  practicable  effort  to  bring  it  to  a  closa 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Could  a  greater  calamity  befal  the  country  than  for  it  to  be 
completely  caught  in  the  toils  of  this  relentless  oppressor  of 


I 


35 


■ 


the  human  family  ?  What  an  abject  condition  should  we  be 
in  !  How  great  would  be  our  fall  1  How  irretrievable  our  ruin  1 
Whata  melancholy  contrast  to  that  manly  independence  and  un- 
exampled prosperity  which  we  enjoyed  under  the  first  admin- 
istrations of  our  government !  Look  over  the  interior  ofConti* 
tental  Europe,  where  not  long  ago  kingdoms  and  republics 
stood  and  prospered  ;  where  deliberative  assemblies  acted 
with  independence  and  effect,  and  the  voice  of  numerous  au- 
thorities was  heard.     A  death-like  silence  now  reigns  over 
all.     Not  a  motion  but  what  is  in  obedience  to  individual 
will.   Not  one  dares  pour  his  complaints  into  the  bosom  of  an- 
other.    The  deep-drawn  sigh  is  half  suppressed.    The  sun- 
burnt female,  whose  hands  draw  from  the  soil  the  means  of 
her  subsistence,  dares  not  audibly  express  her  grief  to  the  en- 
quiring traveller,  that  her  brothers  have  been  torn  away  from 
her  afflicted  parents  to  serve  in  the  armies,*     Arc  we  prepa**- 
ed  to  precipitate  ourselves  into  a  state  of  degradation  and  mis- 
cry  bordering  upon  this  ?  II  we  would  not,  let  us,  as  fast  us  we 
can,  get  back  again  to  peace,  impartiality,  and  independence. 
In  a  very  few  words  the  apology  is  to  shew, 
IV.  What  will  be  the  salutary  and  benign  effects,  should 
this  heresy  triumph  over  our  country,  and  supersede,  by  u 
general  influence,  that  philosophic  and  political  oiLhodoxy, 
which,  to  our  eye,  is  a  mere  system  of  infidelity,  infatuation 
and  ruin.     These  effects  are  obvious.     From  past  experience 
and  the  nature  of  the  case  we  may  conclude,  i!iat  our  divisions 
would  be  removed,  and  union  would  be  restoicd  to  us,  a.s  a 
people  ;  that  cabal,  and  tumult  and  riot  would  cease  ;  that  the 
wounds  inflicted  on  our  country  would  be  healed  ;  that  peace 
would  immediately  take  place  upon  honorable  tei  ins  ;  that 
commerce  would  be  restored  to  its  full  vigor  ;  that  the  pub- 
lic credit  would  be  raised  j  that  a  new  spring  woUld  be  given 
to  useful  improvements  ;  that  religion  would  be  disembarras- 
sed of  many  of  its  present  impediments  ;  that  the  freedom  of 
debate  and  of  the  press  would  be  recovered  ;  that  ambitious 
demagogues,  and  oflicc-scekers,  and   men    of  nterc  p:\rty, 

Such  ca^s  l\3ve  nctuallv  come   untl.'r 


*  This  i,  iitjt   mere  painlinj. 
^i"v.-  of  travellers. 


I... 


9 


3'6 


\m 


vvould  cease  to  mislead  the  public  mind,  by  thdf  MlSflipt^ft- 
seht^tibhs  atid  falsehoods  ;  that  the  elective  frdficbh^  -^otd 
be  uiilimitedly  enjoyed  arid  rightly  cxerdsed ;  dh'd  th&t)  id 
consequence,  men  of  integrity  and  talents  wbuld  be  ^&i'&6(i 
to  oifBce  ;  that  dignity,  indepehdehce  and  ivtsdoni,  woiud 
characterize  our  public  councils  ;  and  that  the  nation  wourd 
live  in  prbsperity  at  least  a  little  longer.  *'  If  thoti  taUc  away 
frdni  the  midst  of  thee  the  yoke,  the  putting  forth  of  the  fin- 
geir,  and  speaking  ymiity  ;  if  thou  d^a^v;  out  tihy  soul  to  this 
hungry  and  satisfy  the  afflicted  soiil  i  then  shail  tliy  light  rl^e 
in  obscurity,  and  ttVy  darkness  shall  be  as  the  noon  day.  Ahd 
the  Lord  shall  gUidc  thee  continually,  and  satisfy  tby  soul  ih 
drought,  and  make  fat  thy  bones  ;  and  thou  sh^ll  be  like  a 
^vatered  garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water,  whose  waters  faii 
not."    Isaiah  Iviii,  10.  .-..  ...    .^ 

Then  let  us  be  penitcntiy  humf>Ie,  for  every  miiig,  iii  res- 
pect to  our  God,  our  country,  and  one  another,  wherein  our 
consciences  convict  us  of  wrong,  particularly  in  Regard  to  the 
calamitious  war,  in  which,  not  <"  the  injusti'ce  of  a  foreign 
power  ;"*  but  our  own  misguided  policy  and  folly  have  in- 
volved us.  Let  Us  worship  God,  according  to  righteousness, 
and  pray  for  the  success  of  our  arms  so  far  as,  and  no  farther 
than,  they  arc  employed  in  support  of  a  cause  which  he  him- 
self can  approve.  Let  us  mingle  with  our  penitential  contri- 
tions and  acknowledgements,  grateful  prsuse  to  God  tTiat  he 
has  disposed  the  goveVnment  of 'Great-Britain,  with  siicb  a 
promptitude  and  unconditionality,  as  soon  as  they  hadinfornna- 
tion  of  the  revocation  of  the  decrees  of  Berlin  and  Milati,  in 
respect  to  American  vessels,  and  before  they  had  any  knowl- 
edge of  our  declaration  of  war,  to  annul  their  orders  in  coun- 
cil ;  and,  by  thus  removing,  what  some  influential  advocates 
of  the  administration  have  acknowledged  to  be,  the  only  prop- 
er ground  of  the  war,  rendering  the  restoration  of  a  speedy 
peace,  a  matter  of  the  fairest  calulation,  if  not  of  inevitable 
necessity. 

And  if  there,  be  those  present  who  still  choose  to  consider 
and  treat  our  opposition  to  this  war,  as  a  dangerous  hcrosvj 

*  ProcUmation. 


27 


kt  them  be  intreated  to  give  ua  at  least  that  liberty  cf  think- 
ing, speaking  and  acting  which  they  claim  ;  and  1  will  con- 
clude by  only  saying  to  thepi  ii>  t|>i^  regard,  in  the  words  of 
St.  Paul,  which  he  uttered  on  the  occasion  of  making  a  subse- 
quent apology  before  another  civil  magistrate,  "  Would  to 
God  !  that  not  only  ye,  but  that  all  who  are  m  the  same  judg- 
ment, were  not  only  almost,  but.  altogetlier,  such  as  wc  are, 
f«?ept(thffsct?oiuJf."  .    ,,.,.,  ..   :,    .,,„,,-,,      ,  ^^    ,-;,..f^     ' 

■.■.:)\ini.:i{t   hv:      1.    .   ■•       ,  '  :;  '  '      .!  v- t       .^'ri.i'j- 


!-::h  >    Ir 


1    .      .1  >!     •> 


■l 


l; 


!    ';.: 


.t  f 


1  t 


.  •*„  .i  i.  I 


PINfJS, 


•)•■'.  .  '..jo; 


-l^ 


i  '  :. 


.    '■",!■;    I  > 


■  f  f 


>t,     I    :•  t-,il; 


-.1  '  1 


'.'.  r\:  ii.-j.  ,-tb  -••       i,\    f 


!■  '         0, 

.1-     'II    ;i»  'J  ., 


-■3!'/  :^'.v    (■•)«:  i>  Mij  :.  ,;    ; -i:    '   .'•    •     '      ■•    1- V  '.     i-i-  -   ■ 
I,!''-*    •  ■'    -••;n.''      -.li'/*"-     ■';■,•    v.,   ,  »■  •  t:  r'-':  V  .    v   ,  ,,■>  ^ 


\ 


J..  '' 


.  <> 


■A. A 


-'A- 


NOTES, 


.  .  >;  ■    \''y.^  r'.  •;i:r.rf:r 

'. ,  .1  'i '  /  ,"u>.'-i  ..<;.; 

•       ..'.,'  ,  .  >  J  V,  ):.  ir  ;  i;.oU 

NOTE  [^O—-'''^^*  ^2.  '),:::.(. 

LIBERTY  of  conscience  is  a  dear  privilege.      It  has  full 
^cope  in  this  Country,  and  the  clamor  of  sectarians  is  utterly  with> 
out  ground.     To  build  upon  this  cl^im,  doctrines  and  measures 
which  leave  nothing  permanent  j  which,  in  effect,  annul  solemn 
covenants,  and  contradict  our  f:ommonest  notions  of  honesty,  is 
^aerely  to  use  liberty   for  a  cloak  of  maliciousness,  pr  covetous- 
ness,  or  licentiousness.      Instead  of  strengthening  civil  govern- 
ment, it  subverts  it.     It  is  directly  in  the  face  of  the  constitution 
of  this  Commonwea1th,which  declares  that,  "  the  legislature  shall, 
from  lime  to  time,  authorize  and  require,  the  several  towns,   par- 
ishes, precincts,  and  other  bodies  politic  or  religious,  to  make  sui- 
table provision  at  their  own  expence,   for  the  institution   of  the 
public  worship  of  God,  and  for  the  support  and   maintenance  of 
public  protestant  teachers  of  piety  and  religion."    How  idle  are 
all  laws  to  this  purpose,  if  they  undo  themselves  by  provisionsal 
relaxations ;    if   they  warrant    the  individuals,    who    have  de- 
deliberately  acted  in  forming  a  contract  for  the  support  of  such  a 
teacher,  to  break  away,  at  any  moment,  from  the  obligations  of  the 
contract,  and  deny  the  support  they  promised  to  furnish  !   Better 
have  no  legislation  than  to  have  it  so  extravagantly  absurd.     The 
Baptists  are  the  most  clamorous  for  iuch  a  prostration  of  constitu- 
tion and  law.  And  alas  !  they  have  not  clamored  without  effect.  It 
is  hoped  and  believed  that  thejudiciary  will  stand  firm   in  defence 
ct"  the   Constitution,   and  treat   as    mere   nullities,  as  the  mere 
offspring  of  a  disorganizing  democracy,  all  laws  evidently  subver- 
sive of  it.      Let   us   have   full-grown   liberty,   but  no    dwarfish 
licentiousness. 

NOTE   [/?.]— .Pfl^-f  12. 

A  Farmer  :  No.  lo.  Such  is  the  strain  of  malediction  in  this 
jMiident  disclosure  of  feeling.  *' In  this  liberty  (the  voluntary 
election  and  support  of  ministers)  and  in  the  politic9l  causes  which 
have  and  are  every  day  disgusting  it,  if  they  are  continued,  we  fore- 
ree  the  downfall  of  federal  clergymen. — Already  has  the  forgiving 
spirit  plead  for  clergymen  seventy  times  seven. — Adverse  combi^ 
riations,  oppugnations,  disrcfpect,  reproach,  and  systematic  revil- 


2'j 


'.'<} 


ings  are  (in  the  essence  and  nature  of  the  crimes)  iedition,  trea. 
son,  and  rebellion. — Justice,  duty,  religion  and  patriotism,  would 
not  hesitate  to  denounce  such  an  individual  an  outrageous  offender, 
and  to  treat  him  as  an  outlaw. — If  an  individual,  obligated  by  pro- 
fessioqal  ties,  holding  the  keys,  and  dispensing  the  seals  of  the 
Old  and  New  Covenant,  should  do  this,  he  would  be  consideied 
as  deserving  every  thing  that  the  injured  could  take,  or  the  insult- 
ed and  betrayed  could  inflict."  Thus,  in  exact  coincidence  with 
the  infidel  hatreds,  and  revolutionary  projects  of  the  philosopher 
of  Ferney,  this  writer  spread  the  watchword  of  the  downfall  and 
slaughter  of  all  the  federal  congregational  ministers  of  New-En. 
gland,  who  were  forty-nine  out  of  fifty.  It  was  this  downfall 
which  his  prophetic  eye  foresaw  (for,  he  knew  they  were  con< 
scientious  men,  and  would  continue  in  the  same  course  of  fidelity 
to  God  and  their  Country)  and  which  he  revealed,  therefore 
which  he  gave  his  voice  to  have  effected.  He  gave  the  watch, 
ward  of  their  slaughter,  I  say  ;  for  this  is  the  fair  construction  of 
his  tyords  ;  nay,  they  admit  of  no  other  meaning.  For  he  who 
is  an  outlaw  is  put  beyond  the  protection  of  the  law,  and  any  body 
may  kill  him  with  impunity.  He  who  wpuld  justly  be  considered 
as  deserving  every  thing  that  the  injured  could  take,  or  the  insult- 
edi  and  betrayed  could  inflict,  would  certainly  be  obnoxious  to  a 
violent  death*  The  proceeding  is  to.be  without  trial,  summary, 
and  popular.  And  what  is  the  crime  which  is  of  this  malignant 
character,  and  which  this  temperate  writer  denominates  sedition, 
treason,  and  rebellion  i  Why,  it  is  receiving  the  Palladium,  when 
sent  to  them  gratuitously,  and«xpressing,  with  some  independence 
of  thought,  occasionally,  their  opinions  of  public  men  and  mea< 
sures.  We  forgive  this  writer.  We  pity  him.  We  wish  him 
well  with  all  our  heart.  But  we  are  ashamed  that  such  an  ebulli- 
tion of  despotism  and  malignity  should  ever  have  emanated  from 
a  press  in  New- England.  And  we  are  constrained  to  say,  that  if 
he  reinaiins  of  the  some  dispositions,  towards  honest  clergymen, 
who  dare  to  foUdw  evidence  and  conscience,  he  ought  to  have  been 
«ent  for  to  act  as  lieutenant  to  the  French  Apothecary  at  Mob- 
town. 

With  this  may  be  joined,  as  a  kindred  effusion,  the  anathama 
found  in  the  string  of  Resolutions  passed  by  the  Middlesex  As- 
semblage of  Republican  Delegates,  in  Concord,  Samuel  Hoak, 
Esq.  Moderator,  and,  as  is  supposed,  the  Honorable,  the  Presi- 
sident  of  the  Senate,  amanuensis. 

*^  Resolved  that  those  professed  teachers  of  religion,  who  have 
pcrverfd  their  vocations  to  party  purposes,  and  have  become  the 


30 

■postlcsot  sedition,   llie  priests  of  discord  and  the   ministers  oi" 
faction,  calumniaiing  their  rulers,  and  speaking  evil  of  dignities, 
nrc  lebels  against  Heaven  and  traitors  to  their  Country/and,  as  they 
have  withdrawn  trom  the  duties  of  their  calling,  from  their  obli- 
gations, as  Christians  and  citizens,  so  citizens  and  Christians  should 
withdraw  from  their  employment  and  support."    Reader,  Would 
you  not  imagine  from  tlie  aspect  of  this  resolution,  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  Congregational  Clergy  in  the  County  of  Middle- 
sex had  abandoned  their  pulpits,  and  their  professional  duties,  and 
gone  up  and  down  the  Country,  like  Peter  the  Hermit,  preaching 
a  crusade  against  the  government,  causelessly  vilifying  its  public 
j^ents,  for  the  mere  purpose  of  spreading  the  flame  of  a  civii  war  i 
Whereas,  they  jtre  all  quietly  at  their  homes^  and  discharging,  as 
ever,  their  pastoral  functions ;   and  no  such  character  exists  in  the 
Commopwejilth,  unless  in  tb?  precincts  of  Lracut.      Would  you 
not  imagin/S  that  the$e  e^^clusLve  patriots  were  warranted  by  the 
Supreme  Being  to  a|ct  a3  his  vicars  in  the  ^reat  affair  of  JMdging  the 
world  ?  Yet,  perhaps,  few  m^n  would  be  put  to  more  difficulty  to 
furnish  evidence  of  their  participation  ip  his  counsels.     An<l  how 
•gdheiive  this  js  to  huqunity  apd    honesty  !  They  object  calumny 
to  theje  ministers.      Yet,  with  the  saipe  breath,  they  impute  to 
them  treason  against  their  Coujntry,  which  js  a  capital  ofTence. 
Let  Samuel  Hoar,  !i;$qi  lyhose  jianie  is  at  the  bottpm  of  these 
resolutions,' designate  the  i;idividuals.    If  he  dares  nbt  do  it,  let 
him  acknowledge  hiipself  an  assassin  of  clerical  repu^atioa. 


t;. 


NOTj:  lC,]^Pag£  13, 


As  a  specimen  see  another  of  the  Middlesex  Resolutions.— 
""  Resolved  that  we  view  with  destestation  the  traitorous  conspira. 
tors  against  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  the  allies  of  our  enfitay 
M/ho  remain  among  us  ;  that  we  will  observe  them  with  jealpusan^ 
scrutinizing  exactness,  until  public  sentiment  shall  consign  Ihem 
to  a  Country  and  a  governmentj  more  congenial  to  their  wishes, 
and  more  suited  to  the  ignoble  temper  oJf  alavfis."  This  makes  us 
think  of  Marr.us  T.  Cicero  in  exile,  and  Julius  Caesar,  after  wad- 
ing blirough  .sea.s  of  the  blood  of  Roin9ti  citizens,  adorned  with  the 
imperial  diadem.  Though  it  behotves  not  Christians  t^^  render 
threateojngfoi-lhreatoning,  yetj  in  point  of  prudence,  i;  aiay  be 
well  ior  these  flaodern  iC«sars  ito  remember  that  in  Rome  there  was 
a  Brutu'^. 


•ji 


';) 


i^. 


■•* 


soi' 
ies, 
hey 
bli. 

DUld 

ould 
large 
Iddle- 
,and 
ching 
ublic 
war  i 


31 

•  in    ii'Jiil*   V  '.HI)'*  ,     I,      J      .       o  .;:,...    ^  .    .^  , 

fivery  friend  to  the  RevoIiHidh,  and  to  the  liberties  of  his  Couti. 
tiyionghttoeKpressyOa  all  proper  occasions^  his  abhorrence  of 
Ihosi  numerous  attenapta  whifcll  htfve  been  oiade,  by  the  advocates 
of  the  adniiiristration^  coercively  to  sileae*  oppesitiony  and,  by  in- 
fractioAs  of  the  Conttittition  and  bwi,  to  perpetuate  their  power. 
They  hafve  endeavored  to  destroy  majorities  by  fraudulent  imposi. 
tions  and  b^caba)»  knd  to  restrain  the  frtedom  of  the  press  and 
ei  debate;  Bnt  the  plan  which  was  adopted,  by  the  late  democrat 
tic  hqeiisfatore^  fbr  districting  the  Commonwealth^  evidently  de- 
signed to  perpetuate  the  power  of  a  party  in  the  Senate^  though  the 
voice  of  the  people  should  be  distinctly  against  that  party,  and  call 
loud  for  a  relief  from  their  ruinous  measures  ;  is  such  a  specimen  of 
sheer  Gromwellisnr,  is  such  a  close  imitation  of  the  dexterity,  with 
which  their  dear  fellow^laborer,  Bonapirte,  threw  himself  upon 
the  saddle  of  gov^rnmint,  that  it  ought  to  b^  singled  out  as  an  ob. 
ject  of  peculiar  odium.  Where  is  the  modesty  of  the  present  ma- 
jority in  the  Senaffe,  that,  in  the  face  of  this  great  Commonwealth, 
and  i\€i.t  where  Warren  fell,  abusing  the  name  and  the  nature  of 
republicanism,  trampling  on  her  precepts,  and  casting  her  honors 
to  the  ground,  they  dare  to  shew  themselves  in  the  exercise  of 
power  assumed,  and  not  constitutionally  given!  This  is  a  foul 
blot  upon  the  history  of  Massachusetts.  Let  Hutchinson,  and 
Arnold,  and  Bidwell,  be  forgotten.  Let  all  eyes  be  fixed  upon  this 
majority.  Let  their  proceedings  be  written  with  the  point  of  a  dia- 
mond, that  posterity  may  read,  and  learn  to  distinguish  between 
false  and  true  patriots. 

NOTE  [ii.j—Po^-e  18. 

•*  Offensive  wars  are  those  which  are  made  to  constrain  otliers 
to  give  us  our  due,  in  virtue  of  a  perfect  right  we  have  (o  exuct  it 
of  them,  or  to  obtain  satisfaction  for  a  damage  unjustly  dune  us, 
and  to  force  them  to  give  caution  for  the  future. — We  must  there- 
fore affirm,  in  general,  that  the  first  who  takes  up  arms,  whether 
justly  or  unjustly,  commences  an  offensive  war,  and  he  who  oppo- 
ses him,  whether  with,  or  without  reason,  begins  a  defensive  war.'* 
Bnrlbnaqul  onthe  Principles  of  Nat.  and  Pol.  Law. 

NOTE  lF']^FageT2, 

**  Much  less  ought  she  (the  neutral)  to  complaiii,  if  bhe  entices 
by  high  rewards,  ai»d  countenances  by  fraudulent  protections,  such 
?^eamen  of  tlie  belligerent,  in  deserting tb.e  standard  cf  their  country. 


-1-, 


3d 


"Sucb  is  the  fact  well  known  to  every  man  otk  tbe  sea^coast.-^Mary- 
land,  North.Carolina,  South-Carolina,  Georgia,  employ  three  for- 
eign  seamen  to  one  American!  Nor  is  this ali-^oitr  government 
give  occasion  to  the  very  complaint  of-  which  they  make  so  much 
parade.  It  it  a  fact,  acknowledged  by  our  marine  officers,  that  a 
large  proportion  of  the  laamcn,  in  some  of  our  national  ships,  are 
native  British  seamen,  and  it  is  even  asserted  that  many  of  th«  war. 
rant  officers  are  of  that  description.  Can  a  government  which,  at 
least,  does  not  check  such  abuses,  such  an  4ttack.nponthe  resources 
of  the  belligerent,  such  an  open  inroad  upon  his  rights,  legitimate- 
ly complain  of  his  occasional  abuse  of  the  undoubted  power  of  re- 
claiming his  own  citizens  ?'»  t  -?:(:;, i^ips*?  ct  inn^^it  \ 
"Mr.  Madison's  War,"  by  a New-£ngland.Farhier,  page  i»,  the 
production  of  a  fertile  and  accurate  mind,  replete  with  unanswera- 
ble  argument,  and  profound  discussion,  which  every  AmericacLCit- 
izen  ought  to  possess,  and  again  and  again  to  peruse.  i;<>4)  ff^jftwv 
"It  must  be  then  that  the  reason  why  they  (the  British)  insist 
upon  this  right  is,  that  they  wouid  wish  to  check  the  disposition  of 
their  own  seamen  to  enter  into  our  service,  of  whom  it  is  admitted 
on  all  hands,  we  have  at  least  from  30,,  to  50,000."    page  nth..    . 


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